Thursday, May 29, 2008

I Need A Home

Haha! Just kidding! Did I get ya that time, Jenn?

Anyway, I still need input on the business name, please! It's between "Grace Robert Designs" (which sounds a little more classy and Old Hollywood to me), and "Missie Lind Originals" (which, according to Jenni in OR, sounds more trendy & funky).

Which one do YOU like better?

Saturday, May 24, 2008

I Need A Name

Ok, here's the scoop. I'm seriously considering starting an online website/store to sell my bags. I've had a great offer to have someone design & host a site for me, but I need a business name. So here are a few of my ideas: Missie Lind Originals; Dancing Mom Designs; Grace Robert Designs (those of you who know me personally should know where that one came from). Ok, so that's just a few, but I will take any input that anyone out there has. Please let me know through comments on this post if any of those stand out to you, or if you have another idea (serious ideas only, please). I just need a little kick in the butt to get this going. I never thought that coming up with a business name could be so difficult! Thanks in advance!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Three In Three

Three bags in three hours, that is.

Jenn called me at 10:30am yesterday to see if I remembered to do teacher gifts for Emma & Margaret's dance teachers. Oops! That one slipped my mind! Yesterday was the last class of the year, so I knew I had to do something. So here's what I came up with.



This is my cute little gathered pouch design. I reconfigured the dimensions so it's not quite so much like a chef's hat (the kids like to wear the one I made on Saturday). They're a little smaller, but so much cuter! I started these at 11:30 & was done by 2:30. Whew!

So Miss Cheryl, Miss Rhiannon & Miss Vicki (bags left to right) all got new bags from Emma for their end-of-the-year gifts. Hope they like them!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Hannah's Tote & Another Design

My good friend Hannah is getting married next month. After she saw Sheri's tote bag she decided that she also wanted one. So here it is! Her shower was on Saturday so of course she already has it in hand. This bag has side & bottom gussets as well as a gusseted top for the zipper.




Also, on Saturday morning I had a brainstorm to do a gathered pouch-style bag. Here is my proto-type (or "my bag"). It's reversible, but I think it needs a button closure. And I already have an order for one (with a zipper)! Thanks, Sheri! I'll get it to you ASAP!








Oh, and here's the newest surprise in the garden! Since we moved here in July, we weren't sure what kind of surprises the garden would have for us this spring. The azaleas have been beautiful, but I am loving the deep purple irises! They remind me of my mom's garden, which, by the way, has yet to bloom anything other than her Lilies of the Valley.

Friday, May 16, 2008

I Like Pink

but not when it's followed by the word "eye." Sheesh. When it rains it pours around here. Emma got pink-eye Sunday night, then Bobby got it on Tuesday, then Jake got it Wednesday. So far so good for me (knock on wood!). Emma's is now gone, Jake's is getting better, and I think Bobby's feeling a little better too. Of course, now at least one of our neighbors has it too. Oops! I feel really bad about that, but she says she's fine. Crazy spring!

Monday, May 12, 2008

What's the True Meaning of Mother's Day?

Spending time with your kids, right? Yeah, I don't think so. Not if that means spending time over the toilet and/or buckets. But that's how Jake & I spent much of Mother's Day. It started just before midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning, and didn't end til around lunchtime. Oh well, at least we got to snuggle on the couch, even if we were both slightly green and trying to sleep. By the afternoon we were well enough to go outside & get some fresh air & sunshine, & then I was able to do a little shopping after all, although I didn't get much for myself. For the most part, though, the kids were fine all day and that's all I can ask for (Oh wait! Emma spent the whole afternoon with Gramma! No wonder she was fine, she wasn't even here!)

Saturday, May 10, 2008

New Bags of the Week



Last weekend I was able to sit and sew while it rained like crazy outside. My very good friend Susie (aka Pookie, or Auntie Pookie to the kids) has 2 daughters in dance classes (they're almost 11 and 14). They desperately needed/wanted new dance bags, so they picked out the fabric and I made these cute and personalized bags for them. (Surprisingly, the one with Elmo belongs to the 14 year old!)

I also had some inspiration for a new bag style. So I went at it and just cut & sewed some fabric and this lovely little blue & green bag is the result. I am now in love with this bag, and with the style. It actually is very quick to put together, but the appliques & satin stitching are what took me the longest. I don't know, I think I may have a new "signature bag." What do you think? (Oh, and the little matching book next to the bag is my coveted sketch & idea book.)

April Showers Brought.....





May Azaleas!

And green leaves on the trees! This is my most favorite time of the year. I love the look of fresh, new nature in all its glory. The trees are green. The flowers are blooming. The world seems colorful again. We've been very lucky to have already had a few days in the 70s & several in the 60s. We spend so much time outside now that it's really hard to keep the kids in when it's chilly and/or raining. Although the rainy days are good for sewing!

We have even had several visitors this week in the form of hummingbirds, an osprey, a groundhog, many fat bumblebees, and our usual array of chickadees, cardinals & bluejays. Whoever thought moving to the middle of the city would also find us in the middle of so much nature?

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Sophie's Books

I have discovered yet another fabulous author. Sophie Kinsella has an amazing writing style and wonderful story lines. I just finished 2 of her books, "The Undomestic Goddess" and "Can You Keep a Secret." Next I'm going to check out her "Shopaholic" series. I can't wait til Monday to get to the library! I've added her link to the sidebar, so if you're looking for someone new to read be sure to check her out!